Speaking Event: Capitalism and the Myth of a Personal Life

t seems that life is divided between the economic sphere of work, where we meet our material needs, and the personal sphere of family, friends, and intimate relationships, where we meet our emotional needs. In this presentation, Dr. Susan Rosenthal, long-time family therapist and revolutionary socialist, explains that there is only one sphere - capitalism.

Capitalism shapes every aspect of what we call personal life. Why is this important? Rosenthal explains that there is no such thing as a personal life separate from our work lives. Capitalism depends on women's oppression and relies on the family to maintain this system of exploitation. Only a revolution against capitalism will allow us to throw off the oppression that weighs on every personal relationship in our lives.